Warning - Dubai Airport

LadyDee

I flew recently Heathrow/Melbourne return. This was with Royal Brunei Airlines and there are two stops, Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) and Dubai.

The journey requires getting off the plane both in Brunei and Dubai the walking involved in the former is bad enough but oh my goodness - Dubai! I required wheelchair assistance (pre-booked due to injury) and my wheelchair was pushed at a good pace by a young, fit porter and took a good ten minutes, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was getting on for a mile.

Anybody having to transit in Dubai especially be prepared! It might look all shiny and beautiful since the renovation/rebuild but I don't think transit passengers were a priority in the planning.

RB - fabulous flight/aircraft/cabin and ground staff but that stop in Dubai would make me hesitate to use them again.

Shimrod

I've got to be honest - this sounds like most large Hub airports. I generally enjoy the opportunity for a good stretch of the legs when transiting an airport like this.

EssexExile

Quite so, I've been to plenty of airports with longer walks than that.

LadyDee

Fine - clearly my warning was of course for those with restricted mobility.

eDicky

As it was presumably a return to the same aircraft, it's likely caused by the wheelchair use, a long detour to avoid the stairs/escalator and no nearby elevator.

Another possibility is that the porter had his own reasons for taking the 'scenic route', for example if it took him through an area where a girl who he fancies was working.

spiro

Even with smaller airports like London Luton and Stansted I have seen signs warning that it takes 5min, 10min, 15min, 20min to walk to certain gates from the departure lounge.

peachyprice

I'm surprised they used a wheelchair for you at DXB, they usually use electric buggies that would obviously have been much quicker.

LadyDee

peachyprice wrote: »

I'm surprised they used a wheelchair for you at DXB, they usually use electric buggies that would obviously have been much quicker.

Wheelchairs were waiting for myself (and two/three others) at the aircraft door. The service provided was outstanding really, individual wheelchair users are taken straight through passport control and security etc. It was a little embarrassing to be prioritised like this , but I think that this was probably more in order for the staff to be released for other duties and not have to waste their time in queues.

We were taken to the next boarding gate for onward flight, then once boarding was announced staff reappeared to take those of us who needed assistance the remainder of the journey to the plane again.